THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Rumblings hit the Salcete-based Goa Vikas Party on Monday, with party Supremo and Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco mulling merger of the party with United Goans Democratic Party and threatening to quit the outfit and join the UGDP if his merger proposal does not find favour with the GVP leadership.
That Mickky’s proposal may not find favour with the GVP leadership became evident with party’s all powerful general secretary Lyndon Monteiro firmly ruling out the possibility of the party’s merger with any other outfit. Monteiro made it abundantly clear that the party flag will continue to fly irrespective whether any individual or MLA leaves the party.
Mickky told the media on Monday morning that he has proposed to the GVP leadership to merge the party with the UGDP since the party has got the BJP tag for supporting the BJP-led government in the Assembly. “This is just my proposal to the party leadership. If the proposal does not find favour with the GVP leadership, I will quit the party and join UGDP. My wife, Viola, who is the GVP president, will also quit GVP”, Mickky told media in the presence of Sarpanchas from Nuvem constituency, including Majorda Sarpanch Moises Vaz, Betalbatim Sarpanch Maria Pereira, Nagoa Sarpanch Franky Vales, Verna Sarpanch Emeliano Fernandes and Loutolim deputy Sarpanch Mario D’Cruz.
“The GVP had got the tag as the party associated with BJP. Initially, the party had extended support to the BJP-led government, but I had been keeping a distance from the government for a long time now. The Party did not even extend its support to the Laxmikant Parsekar government after Manohar Parrikar was elevated as the country’s defense Minister”, he said.
Replying to a question, he said if the GVP agrees for the merger with the UGDP, then the question of further discussing the power sharing agreement with UGDP leadership will take place. Mickky said the candidates he had shortlisted will be joining the UGDP along with him.
He said the BJP government had failed to resolve the major issues plaguing the state, adding that major issues including special status, MoI, Mopa airport, Regional plan etc have not been addressed till date.
Accusing both Congress and BJP for ignoring the interests of Goa and Goans, he said all regional forces should come together in the interest of Goa.
